Circular-knitting machine



"July 1, 1930.

y H. E. HUsEMAN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed' May zo; 1926 :s sheets-sheet 1 July l, 1930- H. E. HoUsEMAN 1,769,580

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE lFiled may 20,1192@ 3 sheets-sheet 2 July 1,` 1930. H. E. HousEMAN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Mapv 2o, 1926l f .s sheets-sheet s Ffa/0.

Flc-329.

Patented `luly 1', 1930` HAROLD nlnousniaanror Wmme-fron, DELAWARE, .essIGNoR 'ro` sfiA'1rDAnD--v manine.BROTHERS.MACHINE COMPANY, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPO- Barron or DELAWARE PATENT vrrgifcia cnounnnxnirmlns Macnnn rApplication iledMay 20,1926, .Serial No. '110,311.

j The object of the invention iS t0" PrO-"idek an improved machine for effecting any desired changes of yarn in order to lrnit'hosiery ot multicoloredpatterns, particularly7 striped hosiery.'` y Y p 'To this end the invention comprises anum bery of features, all cooperating to enabley the pattern of the fabric to be varied as desired,

' and to producea perfect patternin the fabric,k

so that, automatically, the pattern willbe continuous on the front ofthe stocking and top of the r`foot and will start afresh at the begin- -Y The ningv of Veach new stocking.

v ,principal features oi' `novelty are as follows:

Devices areprovided to actuatethe yarn vfii'igei's.. These `devices are operated indeengaged7 andy positioned by the selector, and n pendently of pattern'mechanism, and patternfcontrolled selecting` means are. movable into. different positions to selectively render anyfo't these devices effective. 'Inpthe pre`v ferred construction these devices are reciprocatedby the means t-hat'actuates the pattern mechanism.` To eect a yarn change, the devices, in their movement in one direction, are

in their movement inf the yotherV direction, eiiect the movement of the selected yarn tiner.vl I

rlhe machine is adapted, as is customary in circularhosiery inachine's, to `rotate tol form the legend thecircular part of the :toot and to 'oscillatefduring the knitting of the heel and toe; the shift from rotation to oscillation and vice `versa beingelectedv automatically. In' the present invention means are operated from the machine vdrive to move the pattern chain' (or other formof pat-tern mechanism) 40, to, cause yarnchanges to be made during ro# tatio'ntol`render the .pattern chain inoperative to e'ect yarnchanges during oscillation and,vwhenrotat1on is resumethtoagjain move Y Y Vthe' pattern chain 'to cause yarn changes. In

' ,Y the change to oscillation preparatory to knitting the'heeh the chain is stopped, so that,

when tljelrnittingof the circular'partof the ii'ootyis resumed,ythe pattern onth'etop of the stoclgingfo'ot will continue' from where it was stopped at the bottom of the :front of the stockingileg'so as'to produce an-uninte'nw ruizate'd patternalong the front ofthe legand top of the foot. In the change from rotation to oscillation preparatoryl to knitting the toe,

the selecting?J means is so operated that it cannot be operated by the c hain,but the chain continues to' move until lmit, is stopped bythe cooperation of a device carri'edby t-he cha-in and a device on the machine; the chain being stopped 'at such pointthatvhen fthevr knitting of another stocking;v is commenced, the patf tern of the fabric will startfatjthe proper point. VThe pattern chain is so carried o n the machine LYthat it can be readily, removed and i another pattern chainsubstituted, and-p the new pattern chain, if not adjusted by hand,"

matically stopped thejdescribed means and, thereby be automatically correctly positioned forubeginning a new stocking. This is a not-` able improvement over the customary method of changing a patte1n,1which involves the stopping of the machine for several hours while the pattern mechanism is adjustedz to knit a new pattern. In this invent-ion the changerequires only'a few seconds and may, 75

if "desired, b e effected,l during the knitting of i thetoe. without vstopping` the machine.

lVheny a yarn carrier is moved into active will be advancedbyits drivey and then auto# Soi..

time thereafter so as to allow the t'woftlnf'ea'd`-s y tolov'erlap tor a very'short circumferential distance; Itis advisable that thelength of the ,overlap be adjustable, as it iskdesirable to'vary 'it` with"diierent patterns.V 'This-is usually `e'lected'by regrinding the ,yarn fingerr i actuating cams, which is a slow and expensive procedure. Y Inthe'present invention, thefyarn'` carrierractuating mechanism'comprises apart which isfifnstaj1 tly 'adj ustabl'e 'by hand to ,vary andpredetermfin e' the time interval between drawal. of another. y The yarnv carriers. are held inactive posif tion by means of retainers. When. a-jyarn fin-.v

'ger is moved into operati-ve position all the` er that-has beenin operative position toi 160,' y

en'A

lthe insertion otone-yarn-carrier and thewith#V The inachine coinpi'isesother novel features of,construction, operation-'function and acl-j vantageA Whic'hfare developed inthe particu-A tion-ff i *Y -Y {Fig 1 isn sideelevation' of 'the same looking l toward ornerside ofthe inachine.

- l Fig. 3 is a side elevation,'partly inection,

of the yarn changinginechanisrn, looking to- Waidtlie other sideofjtl'ie machine.'

" l iaftefifdifffeli)milione i i i Y j F' g; 6i is a1 rear` elevation of the devicesrfor fthefniechlen sin `s liovvn inFigf f5, Y with the .Yassociated nieehaniein` Y i i y n Fig? iefani enlarged cross-sectionthrough y il cani: disc vo V *FisrS k ani-'siii oriminediately .controllingthe operationvo-theVpattennfchain.' ,f f

\ ie needleif cylinder, VVof a'. circiil ,l 288.594 .i Y ,y Y 33 hein@ limited hv a sto 3 39."

ln'the Vase,1 4haveyslioivn a miun;4 The'varin 32 of reciprocating lever` y31' also fbe el 'igeerfclw Tlielatt-ercaz hich vdrives a pinion 'een f inder is Five ere shown,

View of the parte of a cirf v Y "actuating tlielyarn lingers and yarn iingerre-V Y tainere,"theifeelector, 4the pattern .,chain, andl L97 wild 4l() arefdeteil vievvs'offthe inechpartedto it a inoveinentjjof `continuousl rota-Y jtion oragnioveni'entof oecillation, as is Well known fin the art. Y Anyflrno'ivn mechanism i Yfor sooperatingthe cylinder-'and for shifting,v andfor controllinofthe"shift,- frorn 'rotation to oscillation and viceversa maybe einployed, as, oreirainnle, lthe nieclienisni shown in the I patent issued to l Deceniher` 2e, v 1918, No.`

` ny desired` l. oinOc-and o Deratedin- 'h my inventionl Each yarnv Y, I thejnext ecedinginoveinent'-oflarin 32, 'Y lever 35i-lijstrecedes` frein,V "a Y 'l springs '2l` to i'iiove"thev retai Vinglevers4 20 eeeemeit Wthath*rsretfe Swing yarn finger l0 down into` action.

' 'laclryarn` ingerl() is'provided lWith tivo notches, one orfthe otlierof Which (dependent on Whether the finger is inoved up out of teine'r lever-QOsuitably pivoted on the traine Vandr maintainedv in holding position by a .spring`21'-A Pivoted ontlie Same axis'las' lever ,QOQiS a frame 2:2 having a hooked endf23 (eX- tendin'g under the Vfreeendejef- `levers 20) I and a'dependingj arm 24, the end of which is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and Sand thev Whole of Which iS sliovvn in Fig. '2L fThe inain function of the' retaininglevere QOSisto holdin active position the ,correspondingv yarn linger 10- afteribis depreseed. by the Y lever, kll` acting through `levers lZendll. l l y y l Pivotally mounted on the machine freine is a laterally etending hell crank lever 31.V (see Figs. and ,6), one arni of which hasf a pin Wliielilridee ina cem groove 30.111 gear Wheel 7i,'ivl1icli,iniparsto lever 3l a constantfrecipffthefinaehine lon line 6 2. Vinfective vieivfofthecainsfor 1 lling'jhe :operation Voi," the rocetory fniovenient.v lThe otherfarmo the reciprocating lever .3l carriesnn upright arm 32 havin ge laterally extending end onvvliich are pigvotod a seriesgof devices 33 'each shaped are normally held. ny springs '84, in suclifposirti'onjae,shown,in ig. y3,fth:at, intheir,forvvard` s vvinginginoveinenn'they `do not engage levers` i lll. lihoivever, any one. of the devicesf,

70 laction or down into action) is engaged by a re-l v .Y like a bell crank 3, 4 and 5) These 1 devices 33 :operate the respective leversV-lllbut in its `niovenient of recession, is tiltedto the`v positionehovvn inFig. 4, then-invite next 'for- Ward nioveinent, act-iia'tes the corresponding lever 14, as shownV in FigQ, thereby nioving down into 'action Vthe corresponding yarn linger; 10. `During suoli forward movement of deviceB3j,ijts forward bevelled endgslides over and `above' therear bevelled endof lever .14,the upward tiltinnioveinent oid'e'vice'` carries@ pivotedbell cranl;v lever 35, vvliich'hat`v` I `one end a Cross-bar 36,1 and at its other. Y end lcarriee an adjustabley.screvvk 37. Lever l3.5 ie nornallyjheld in inoperative .position-*hy rlever gjntoeuch poeition tliat,inthe con! .atiniied forward inoveinent of arm 32,' lever35 strilicsfthe end' of arinh tiltingr'frarneQQzand lifting all the retainingI levers 20,-thusallovvdown n'.ofperative` position. to he vsiviing,up'

f intoinonerntive position by itsfzorrespendingv een ico

arncarrier that liasheenprevioiiely A 2i, arming iio yarn fingers 10, thereby holding inoperative.:

finger appreciablyf before thelever- 35 effects the lifting vof the retaining levers 2,0so

- tending fourneedles), two'yarn fin'ersv are lsimultaneously in action.V :This -eects an overlap of yarn in the fabric being lrnit.-r "The thatyfor an appreciable time (say one-two hundredths of a second and while the needlev cylinder is revolving throughout an arc submovementof one yarnfinger into operation justbefore the Withdrawal of another yarn finger is common in the art; but infaddition-y to this mode of operation, the above described construction affords a ready means of prede- *termining exactly the length of the overlap, such means beingthe screw 37, by whose adjustment the eXact movementof withdrawal of theretaining levers 20 after the movement` f into operation of a yarn finger can be accurately controlled.

The tilting of the devices 33 is effected by means of a selector A shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4,. Y5 and 6. Selector 40 is movable into a number of different positions, as shownV in Fig. 6.

Except when a yarn change `is to be made,.tl ie selector isin an inoperativeposition (one of the brolrenlline positions).

knitting, selector 40, normallyl occupies theA During rotary broken line position at the right, Fig. 6.

zwhileknitting a plain heel or toe, it occupies one of thefbrolren-line posit-ions at the left.

lVhen, however, during rotary knitting, it is f fdesired to effectl a yarn change, :the selector l.is shifted to a position-behind oney of thetiltable devices 33. 1n Fig; 6y it-'isshown-as behind the' middle-one of the devices-33 In the receding movement ofarm 32, aft-erselector k4() hasjbeen so positioned, the middle of the 1 devices 33 is tilted, aslshown in Fig. 4,'so as to. Y,position 'it to subsequently eect. the -vmove-A ment into n operative position of the correfsponding yarn carrier 10v and the/lifting of allthe retaining levers 20, as above described.

Selector .40 is'undertension ofa spring 41 to allow device 33 to slightlytilt thef'selector Hbackward inv thecompletion offthe receding v"movement of arm32 to allow the front bevel of device 33 to'override and, in thebeginning` of its-succeeding "advance movement,--]ust overlap the rear bevel ofthe corresponding lever 14, asshown in Fig. '4, and thus set the device 33in operative'position. During-,this i advance movement of arm 32, the selectoris shifted to the right, Fig-"6, out 4of alignment with the devices133, so that on the nextreceding movementof arm,32,the just actuated device 33 will return to theinoperative position ineansfas, for eXample,`thatffshownf`the patentissued tome June 4,1921,No'. 1,364,112.` r`120 yThe term pattern disc is-in'tended to inrectly) the shifting ofthe selector40 into position to effect any desiredfyarn change. The v selector is more nearly directly yactuated by av pattern chain 5,0 (see particularly Fig. 6) carrying lugsk 51 of three; different heights.

These three lugs are adapted tounderride a lever GOand lift it so as to tilt into threefm different positions'a bell crank lever 42 carrying the e. selector- 40 and* shift it fromV the broken line `position shown at the rightin Figa 6to aposition back ofthe first, second or third of the Vdevices 33, dependent oit-S0 whether lthe operating pattern chain lug isa lowV lug, a mediumv lug, ora high lug. V.The pattern chain is operated by al sprocket wheel 52 carrying a ratchet wheel 53,-which is en` gaged by a-pawl 54 (see Figs. 6, 9 and 10) oil-585 the reciprocating lever 31. Thereby, as above stated, lever 31 carries the devices 33 that effect the selective operation of the several yarn fingers 10' and also imparts a step-by-step movement to pattern mechanismcontrolling@ the'selector 40 thaty selectively actuates dey vices 33. f

1n the shift from rotation to oscillation, preparatoryto rknitting the heel, itis necessary to arrest the movement of the pattern.; 95

4-chainso that, von the return to rotation andy 4continued where it left off at the con- During `the oscillation of the needle cylinder.

. does not .affect the pawl 54) to the-positicng-lo v` showny in Fig. 10, in which'position it lifts thegpawl 54 out of action. 1 Pawl guard 61vis lifted by the lifting-of lever GO above the position to which it is liftedv by. the highest lug on the pattern chain.` lVhen lever 60' is sonno lifted,-it swings*the.selector-carryinglever 42 into the extreme left-hand broken line position-shown in G, which is one :ofthey inoperative positions of the selector.V

' This high lifting of lever 60 is effected by.=115f `means ofacainfi' 1 carriedfby apattern`-disc "70.y See 'Figs-7 and 8. This pattern disc may be Yintermittently operated kby anyfs'uitable clude -v any device carrying thecam 1 (and 1 the. cams 72 and 7 3 hereinafter described) and rwhich is vvoperable in Aproper sequenced relative to. the means .for changing from 4ro-V.

. tation to oscillation, and-vice' versa. Gam 471,

it will be understood, operateslever'GO-at the beginning of the shiftA froin-rotationto oscillation preparatory to knitting the lheeland ".130

i I `releases lever 60 at the roscz'llating period.; .-f si i y A e f v r In'timedfrelation to the shift fromv rotation to oscillation-preparatoryto knitting 'the toe, f Sit'isnecessaryitoagain arrest themovement of the patternscliain;fand when itis desired conclusion ot' such tohhegin theilniitting Aof.the,pattern after the .r return shift'iroin oscillation to rotation and Fafter lmittingr of a new stool/ringV is started'- :It is.r obvionslyfdesirahle, however, to 'start itis necessa'ryfto restartfthe pattern chain.

Y thefpattern at the beginning; and `therefore Y `thepattern chai-n""shonld notbe arrested until iitis brought'to the detiniteposition-that it] "must woccupy ink order toV start thc pattern atV y the; beginning. To reffect thisoperation fof `stopping:and restarting in timed relation `to fi the said shifts, it is necessary'to restart the pattern chain at a 'definite v course oflknittingg but "the timef'o" arrest of theV pattern chain- 'precedingV such restarting' will vary With the position ofthe` pattern chain Vafter the yarn such arrest-finayvoccur during rotation immethe following explanation. Y -V Preparatory to knitting:the toe,` it is cus- Y I. itoinary'toknitseveral :plain roundcourses.

' A:fflnthe fpresent machine,L `theretore,` it is are V- Uranged that all thev yarn. carrlersf'used tor' stiping shalll be in-ovedout of `,action prepara'toryA .toA :knittingfthese plain round Vconrsesanditis arranged that the pattern chain shall' thereaftercontinue' to advance until it is fhronght Vto the denite position that j iti-.must occupy .inforder'to start-the pattern at the beginning and shall not he arrestedunf "tilit is :brought to thatposition;y This move-V Y ment otarrest mayoccnriwhile the machine i's.knitting plain round conrses or aftertheV subsequent;shi/ttfroml rotation to `oscillation: and.vvhiiey itis knittingV thetoef'-depfrend-iVV entonthe lengthot Achain that `must he ad-` r vanoedf` until i the chain is Y brought to such 1 'deiinite'positioa After the'toe is ,completedv I and `the g. machine -isf reshifted `from .oscilla- 'ontojrotationy-itfis .customary lto knitisev- V erallooperfronnds "and,V after., transferring, `to j rounds` of 'plainknitting and! V In the present ma-y O'edyatter the 1de.-

kknit several patterrrf llismlf e otronnds ot .plain knitting, l, start the chain'and,tlllfobyrestart the knit- `Chaim aswill nowhedescribed.LV .Y

" gi; Preparatory tofV knitting the 'plain round rconrsespreceding thetoe, aca-m 72 onrpating of the'patterned par-tof the stocking; 5 ,Y 1 Y V'Toefleot"thegaoofvedescribedoperation',

Vf`providedoviceson the pattern chain and lef verf-6Q which coopieratetostop thev chain at f the pr \per'point=,'and`tothereafter restart the- -tern1disc ZOengagesdever-GO and swings it `into the 'position4 shown in Fig.. Y9, 'Whereat lever 60 is shown lifted high'enongh to allow the lugs on the pattern chain to travel under the leveriGOhnt not so high as to littguard "6l high lenough to prevent the continued ratcheting of the pattern Wheel lhy thejpavvl f 54; .Y (Inthispositionot leverGO,` lever l2 is swung into the broken line position next to the extreinehrokenline `position atthe lett inv Eig;- 6.)( ln-this position of lever 605ml arrester cani 62 enlever 60 is'brought into such position that a shifter or set-'up pin 55 (Fig. onthe pattern chain vvill .(atthe 'point at which it isV desired to stop thepat- SOinto the position shown in Fig; 10at which i positionr as hereinbetore explained, Y andasFig l0 clearly shovvs,' guard 6l Will litt pawl '54- out of operative position. It

`will remainin this 1)osition even after cam Z2 rides beyond lever 60. Y After the knitting fof thetoeis completed and `after' the shift i rom-oscillati on to rotationy and after the previously described round courses are knit, an 1 extrahigh cam 'Z3-*rides under/lever 60 and lifts it to a position higherfthan-fany hereinbefore described and suiiiciently high to canse asecond paWlv 68 (carrie-d by lever 60) to en` Vgagethe ratchet mand-advance thepattern chainone" step, the-pinto then riding heyond. arm 62. Immediately thereafter cam 73 rideslheyond' lever 50, permitting lever 60 to return to its normal positomin which positionpavvl guard 6l' drops down into operative position,allovvingfthe pavvl 54 tok re.- snme the step-loy-step operation ot the patternfchain. v Y

l Aclamp'nnd-cntteractuatingl lever 80 (seeFigssel and 2) is pivoted on the machineltrarne. Lever 8O kis operate-d,V synchronously with the yarn 'changing mechanism; by means 'ofan{ar-1n25l (on frame 2Q) underriding an adJustlngfscrevv Slcarrled hy}leve18O'. TheV iclam'p land cutter 'mechanism may he thesame as that setorthfin an application:jledxby It Willfbe notedthatvthe described-.pattern mechanismcomprises the pattern chain 50 and the cams on thediscTO; and that the cam` Vcarryingrdisc actsas a primary pattern mechanismand that the chalnacts as a secondary lpattern v:mechanism.` Obviously thesep tvvo patternmechanisms need 4not' he respectively several hoursvv'hile Y the patternl imechanism 271s beingec'ljnsted to "knita nevvpattern. f ln my machine, itisfonly necessary, to fslipo one: chainpand"slihstituteanotherf-chain the "One-.notabie a'dvantage'ofa vmachine emloodyin'g myinventionis thatk va change ot' pattern may be made verygqniclly. In the ordinary!linittingmachine, a changent pat tern involves thestoppinp,- or" `the machinetor 80 /tern chal/n)V underridearm G2 and litt lever e :'"anyof said devices to be selectively operated lugsof which were arranged to dictate the knitting of a new pattern while the machine was in operation. This change occupies but a few seconds and, indeed, may be effected while the machine is knitting the toe. Moreover, the chain need not be accura-telyvposi-` tione'd, becauseit will automatically prop* erly position itself bythe engagement of the described cooperatingdevices 55 and-62 onthepattern chain and lever respectively.

The pattern mechanism per se hereindescribed constitutes the subject-matterof a divisional application filed. J une 22, 1928, Serial No. 287406.

Having now fully described my invention,

what'I claiml and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circular knitting machine, the com-f bin'ation with a rotatable needle cylinder, of

set of non-rotatable independentlyv movable yarn fingers, a set lof independently operable devices, one for each yarn finger, adapte-d to A effect the movement of the respective yarn f inger'sfinto operative position, operating means for said devices, selecting means, and pattern mechanism adapted to ,move the selecting` means to so position the operating means that the" latter will be effective to so operate said sets of devices, to selectively actuate said yarn fingers Y 2. Ina circular knitting machine, the comi bin'ation with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of independently operable "devices, one for each'yarn linger, adapted to effect the movement of the respective yarn fingers into operative position, selecting means adapted to be shiftedr into position rto cause any of said devices to be selectively operated,`

'-means, 'operable in the'actuation of the-se n' lected device and yarn finger, to effect a withdrawal from yarn feeding position of any other yarn finger that is in yarn feeding position, and pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any vpredetermined operative position. f

3. In a circular knitting machine,`the coin,y

bination` with a rotatable needle cylinder, uof

a set of non-rotatable independently movable iyarn fingers, a set of independently operable devices,'one for each yarn finger, adapted to effect the movement of the respective yarn fin`- gers into operative position', selecting means adapted to be shifted into position to cause me`an's,"operable in the actuation of the sevmeans comprising an adjustable device' to' 1 varyy the lag ofthe operation of said *yarn finger withdrawal means behind the move- `ment of the first yarn finger into operative position.l

4. In a circular knitting machine, the coin- `bination with a rotatable needlec'ylinder, of

a set of non-rotatable independently movable y yarn fingers, a set of' independently operablek devices, onev for each yarn finger, adapted to effect the movement of the respective yarn fingers into operative position, selecting means adapted to be shiftedinto position to cause any of said devices to be selectively operated,

pattern mechanism adapted to move Vthev s'e-f lecting means into Vany predetermined posi'- tion, driving means and mechanism' operable therefrom'to rotate and oscillate the needle cylinder, means operable from the driving means to impart a step-by-stepniovementto saidk pattern mechanism, and means operable from the driving means to arrest the move'- mentof the pattern mechanism in a change Vfrom rotation to oscillation.

5. In a circular knitting machine, the com# bination witha rotatable needle cylinder, of a plurality of yarn fingers, springs tending to move the yarn fingers in one direction, retainers for restraining the movement of theV yarn. fingers by their springsactuators for positively and independently moving the yarnV fingers inthe opposite direction, mechanism f for rendering all the retainers inoperative to restrain. the'movement of the yarn fingers, devices for 'operating said actuators, said de-A vices, actuators andinechanims beingl normally inoperative, and a pattern-controlled selector for rendering any one of said devices operative and said lactuators and mechanism` successivelyoperative whereby one A'yarn' finger is moved positively in one direction and' another yarn finger moved spring-actuated in the opposite direction.

`6. In a circular knitting machine, the coinbination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set ofyarn fingers independently'movable into and 'out of action, springs tending-to 'move the respective yarn A'fingers out of ac tion, retainers adapted'to hold the respective yarn fingers in action after they are moved into action, mechanism adapted to be operrated to 'first positively move a yarn finger intoaction and' thereafter to hold said yarn Y finger in action and `withdraw all the re tainers from operative position,'thereby al# lowing .any other yarn finger thatl may have been in action to `move out of action, said* mechanism being also adapted to subsequent# ly release all said retainers to allow the yarn finger that has been moved into action to be`vr` f held in action by its retainer and then to re` lease the last named yarn finger, and selecting meansadapted to cause said mechanism to selectivelyniove into action, as above' specyarniingers, a setof independentlv operable non-rotatable ,yarn llinger actuators, one forK each yarntinger,adapted*to move the respective yarnlingers into yarn-feeding position,

set of independently operable devices, one i for each arn in'eractuator adapted to ac-` :i a l.

tua-te :the-respective' yarn linger actuators,

" 'ineaiistooperatesaid devices,jselecting means adapted to Vbe shifted Vinto `position to render any-of said devices, etfectivdfin its operation' by its .peratinglineana to selectively actuate-V its respective yarn iingeractuator, and pattern `nieclniiiisi'n adapted to move the selecting meansi'nto any predetermined position..

. 8. In a circularlriiittin` machine the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set :of V,non-rotatable independently mov able yarningers, afsetv'of independently oper- Y ablenoii-rotatableyarnlinger actuators, one

for each"4 arn fineer l adaoted to move the ,i e 7 Y 1. respective 'yarn lingersinto yarn-feeding po 1 sition, fa setjof independentlyJ operable de# vices, one for each yarn iingerI actuator, adapted to, actna'te .tliejrespective yarniinger actuators, `selecting means adapted to bev shifted into position'tocausenany of said de-k j vices `to be selectivelyoperatedpneans, oper- Fablein the actuation oilthe selected device dravval' from,"arnifeedino iosition oan,

i n Y Y b i yarnlingerfi'that is inyarn-eeding position,

Y andpattern mechanism adapted to move the.:y selectingmeansinto.any predetermined oper-r y ative position.

y. 9jV Ina circulaiilrnitting machine, the coin- Y bination With a rotatable needle cylinder, orp

aV setof nonfrotatable independently movable yarnV lingers, "'a set of independently operable y i devices adapted to move the respective lingers' ,into'and temporarilyliold them inyarn-feedpositioii,iiger retainers adapted to hold the respective yarn lingers in yarn-feeding position, selecting l; means adapted to be shifted into positi'onjto canse.v the iingerlinoving devices to" `be selectively and' independently Yoperated,means `operable inthe actua-A tion of!l a finger-actuating device to Withdraw 'from operative position any retainer thatv is holdingits Correspending yarniiger in yarn eedingposition and to move intok operative position `the'.ietainerf.corresponding to the ingerthat is movediiito yar'nfifeeding Yposi-y tionivby the corresponding. lingeiiiioving device, and pattern mechanism adapted to move `the -selectiiigineans intov anyV of its operative positions., n, .y 'n

. l0. Ina circular knitting machine, the coin-V Vbination With aiotatable needle cylinder, of

a set einen-rotatable `iiidei'iendently movable 'yariifingers, a setof independentlyoperable Y itied, any predetermined yarn carrier of the set. y l.

Ina circular knitting machine, the con'i.

-vop'erative position. Y

devicesadaptedj to move the respectivelnm. lgers into andteinporarily hold them in yarnfeeding position, retainers adapted'to vhold the .respective yarn lingers in yarneediiig positioii,selecting means adapted to'be moved draw from operative` position all the linger retainers and to release them before theseelectively operated finger-inovinghand holding V'device releases its yarn linger, and. pattern" mechanism adapted to:` move the selecting` means into any of its actuatingjpositions.

ll; In a ,circular` knitting machine, the y combination with a rotatable needlecylinder, of a set of nonerotatable independently mov- 'operative kposition any retaiiierthat iseholdling its correspondingyarnv linger in yarniieeding position, means, operable by any of said finger-moving and holding devices,

'adapted to so actuate said retainerswithdraivy .70 7.-: i into positiontoselectively operate the finger.- actuating .devices,nieans, operable in the ac-` tn-.ation of aiinger-actuating device, to With.- y

ingmeans and to release saidretainer-.vvithdrawing means befere'the actuated lingen.

.moving and holding` device releases its .respective yarn iinger, selecting means adapted K e to be moved into position to selectively. operandyarii actuator,fto effec-t" a Witlate .the tinger-inovingand` holding devices,

and pattern mechanism adapted'to shift the selecting means into any-oi" its operative positions. z ,l y a 12. ln acircnlar knittingmacliine, the coinibinationivitha rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable' yarn lingers, a set of independently operable `members adapted to move the respective yarn lingers into .yarnfeeding position, springs f tending to YWithdraw the yarn lingers from yarn-feeding position, a` set of independently operabledevices adapted to actu'ate said memthe 'selecting .means into any `predetermined 13. In a circular knittingv machine, the

combination With a rotatable needle cylinder,

of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of non-rotatableindependently operable members adapted to move the respective :yarn fingers jinto yarnfeeding'position, springs tending to Withl draw the vyarn fingers from yarn-feeding position, `a setof independentlyoperable devicesv adapted to move the vrespective lingernioving menibersinto position to move yand temporarily hold the respective vyarn lingers in yarn-feeding position, retainers adapted l to retain the respective yarn lingers in yarnfeeding position after they are released by their respectivemoving members, selecting means adapted to be shifted into vposition to selectively actuate any of said devices, ineans operable by any of said devices to Withdraw i the retainer from retaining position to allow` any finger in .yarn-feeding position to be` Withdrawn from such position, saidV` retainers being freed fromsaid Withdrawal ineans ,y to allow one of them to moveinto position to retain in yarn-feeding position the nger Which is moved into yarn-feeding position by the device and member that are operated by the selecting means, andV pattern mechanism adapted to move the selecting means into any predetermined operative position. y

14. In a circular knitting' machine, the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of a set of non-rotatable independently movable yarn fingers, a set of independently operable members adapted to inovethe respective fingers into lyarn-feeding position,

Y springs tending to Withdraw the yarn iingers from yarn-feeding position, retainers adapted to hold theyarn fingers in yarn-feeding positionv against the action of theirsprings, a set of independently operable devices for actuating the respective finger-moving members, a contrivancek and connections/therefrom tothe retainers for moving the latter` out of said retaining position, selecting means adapted to effect the successive operation of one of saiddevices and said contrivancel to successively effect the movement of-one of the fingers into yarn-feeding position and allovs7 another finger that has been in yarn-feeding Y position to be moved out of action by its spring, and pattern mechanism adapted to. move the-selecting means into diiierent pre-` determined operative positions. n v

l5. In aA circular knitting machine, the

combination with arotatable needle cylinder, of faset of yarn fingers, yarn changing mechanism, pattern mechanism, a contrivance adapted-to operate the pattern mechanism, and means to operate the yarn changing mechanismv to eectyarn changes, said the yarn carriers toef'fect predetermined less than threer independently movable yarn `fingers, a set of independently operable Vdeyarn iingers, operating devices therefor, selecting means movable intodiiferent posi-` tions and thereby so controlling the operation of said devices as to 4cause them to operate changes of yarn, a yarn clamp and cutter,

and mechanism operable by said ldevices toV ,i

operate the clamp and cutter. s l

1S. In a circular knitting machine, the combination ofv a needle cylinder, a set of not vices, one for each yarn finger,y adapted tol effect the movement of the respective yarn fingers into operative position, andk means to subsequently eiect a Withdrawal from yarn feeding position of any one of the yarn fingers that is in yarn feeding position so as to produce an overlap of ryarn in the fabric, said yarn finger Withdrawal means comprising'a chain of elements adaptedk to alloW Withy drawal of all the yarn guides, oneelement'op-l erating another and 4operating synchronously -vvith said devices, one of said elements comprising an 'adjustable' device vvhereby the time of contact between tivo elements of thev chain may be advanced or retarded, thereby ,advancing or retarding the time of the move-v ment of Withdrawal of any one 'of the yarn fingers that is in operative position and thereby, by a single adjustment, increasingor decreasing the overlap of yarn produced by the of4 any two of the yarn ngers. Y

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto setiny hand, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 29th day of April, 1926.`

` l HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN.

ki105 i" specified successive insertion and Withdrawal" iis means being operable in part by said contrive y ance independently of the pattern mechanism and in part by the pattern mechanism.

16. In a circular knitting Amachine,` the combination with a rotatable needle 'cylinf 

